Do you grunt or otherwise make noise while hitting? Do you think it helps you? Do you mind when your opponent does it? I never make noise in practice or when cruising in a match. However when playing a physical point in a close match I typically go to a Djokovic style grunt. Also I often punctuate winners with a prolonged "EEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHH!", a quick fist pump and a stare at my opponent. I don't think this helps or hinders my game in any way. It is just a natural thing I do when I am really zoned in during a match. I don't mind my opponents making noise in the least. In fact, I find female grunters rather attractive.

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Due to retire from competitive tennis and TTW on August 19th. Thanks to all! It's been a fun time!

Do you grunt or otherwise make noise while hitting? Do you think it helps you? Do you mind when your opponent does it? I never make noise in practice or when cruising in a match. However when playing a physical point in a close match I typically go to a Djokovic style grunt. Also I often punctuate winners with a prolonged "EEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHH!", a quick fist pump and a stare at my opponent. I don't think this helps or hinders my game in any way. It is just a natural thing I do when I am really zoned in during a match. I don't mind my opponents making noise in the least. In fact, I find female grunters rather attractive.

I don't grunt ever in a match but in practice as in just hitting up I will whenever i go for a sick winner, whether it goes in or not that's a different story lol, or sometimes I'll actually just shout out ''POW'' or ''BAM'' for fun

As long as it sounds like real effort and not made up screams for everything including drop shots, lol, it's fine with me. I kinda like the sound some pro males make - like the whine of a high revving turbo - especially when they serve.

Grunting and breathing (exhaling) are 2 different things. Grunting, for the most part, is an affectation that becomes habit, and really accomplishes nothing. Put your hand in front of your mouth and yell as loud as you can, you'll feel very little air on your hand. Now just blow, without any vocalization, and you will feel a lot of air. Exhaling is good, and aids breathing, the vocalization that goes along with grunting does nothing. I've seen many top pros, who grunt when they play matches, make no sound at all in practice, even though their practices are sometimes more vigorous than their matches. Grunting is for show. If it weren't everyone would do it, but they don't.

Grunting and breathing (exhaling) are 2 different things. Grunting, for the most part, is an affectation that becomes habit, and really accomplishes nothing. Put your hand in front of your mouth and yell as loud as you can, you'll feel very little air on your hand. Now just blow, without any vocalization, and you will feel a lot of air. Exhaling is good, and aids breathing, the vocalization that goes along with grunting does nothing. I've seen many top pros, who grunt when they play matches, make no sound at all in practice, even though their practices are sometimes more vigorous than their matches. Grunting is for show. If it weren't everyone would do it, but they don't.

Ok I should add that I inhale when the opposing players makes contact and exhale when I do. For whatever reason I grunt when I do that.

I sometimes do. I don't really see a problem with people doing it as long as it isn't too exaggerated... e.g. some of the girls I've seen at junior tourneys whose 'grunts' are really more like abbreviated screams :P

I make a kind of Muuuuuuh... sound when I hit groundstrokes. Not very loud, I don't think it distracts my opponent, I just find it helps my timing. The only time I make a lot of noise is when I mis-hit the ball, then I do a howl of anguish. On the rare occasions when my shanks / mis-hits land in, this probably amounts to a hindrance.